Cooking computer means

ABSTRACT

A cooking computer for determining the cooking operation of a cooking apparatus, the computer having a stationary input means indicating selectable variables other than the weight of a meat item. The computer has a manually settable weight input means for indicating a single selected indicated weight applicable to all meat items and corresponding to the weight of a particular meat item to be cooked, the weight input means being settable in relation to a selected variable of the stationary input means. The computer has a time period output means operatively associated with the input means to provide as an output a cooking time period for the particular meat item computed as a function from the selection of both of the input means according to a cooking formula.

United States Patent Goodhouse et al.

COOKING COMPUTER MEANS 451 Sept. 5, 1972 Osuch et al. ..235/61 ABeachler et al. ..235/61 A Primary Examiner-Richard B. WilkinsonAssistant Examiner--Stanley A. Wal AttorneyCandor, Candor '& Tassone[57] 7 ABSTRACT A cooking computer for determining the cooking operationof a cooking apparatus, the computer having a stationary input meansindicating selectable varia function from the selection of both of theinput means according to a cooking formula.

20 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures 1 [72] Inventors: Carl J. Goodhouse,Litchfield,

Robert Strachan, New Haven, both of Conn.

[73] Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company, Richmond, Va.

[22] Filed: Feb. 3, 1971 [21] App1. No.: 112,132

52 us. (:1. ..235/61 A [51] Int. Cl. ..G07c H00 [58] Field ofSearch....235/6l R, 61 A, 84; 58/125 B, 58/126 C, 152 R, 145 R;219/489,; 99/327 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,166,6837/1939 Grayson ..58/l52 R 2,663,786 12/1953 Illian et al., ..99/332 X2,838,646 6/1958 Welch ..219/489 3,072,327 l/1963 Perry ..235/61 A3,166,242 1/1965 Shomaker ..235/61 A MIN.IMINDER START @LTIME 94 NT) SE?5 m SHEET 1 4 v .MINDE v A START @L CARL J. GQO USE ROBERT STRACHAN BY M$4...

THEIR ATTORNEYS PKTENTEI'JSEP' 5:912 3588.978

sum 2 or 4 INVENTORS CARL J. GOODHOUSE 73 ROBERT STRACHAN THEIRAiToRNEYs PATENTE'DsEP" 5 m2 3.888.878 sum 3 BF 4 INVENTORS CARL J.GOODHOUSE ROBERT S TRACHAN BY a dmda'lfl 'f' Zena THEIR ATTORNEYSPATENTEDSEP 51912 I 3,5 ,97

INVENTORS CARL J. GOODHOUSE I02 ROBERT STRACHAN THEIR ATTORNEYS COOKINGCOMPUTER MEANS This application relates to a cooking computer fordetermining the cooking operation of a cooking apparatus as well as acooking apparatus having such a computer device.

It is well known from the copending patent application of James R.Willson, Ser. No. 47,345, filed June 18, 1970, now abandoned and itsrecently filed continuation-in-part application, Ser. No. 111,727, filedFeb. 1, 1971, that a most accurate cooking of various meat items can beprovided by a cooking formula for cooking all types of meat by utilizingonly two variables, namely, the weight of a particular meat item to be'.

cooked and the'desired degree of doneness of that meat item whether thedesired degree of doneness relates to a range of doneness conditions fora particular meat item or to meat items of different types.

For example, such cooking formula when being utilized in connectionwithgaseous fuel burning cooking apparatus provides the cooking time periodin minutes as being equal to 70 times the square root of the weight ofthe meat item plus or minus a K factor with the cooking temperaturebeing approximately 325 F. and with the K factor being the selecteddegree of doneness for the particular meat item. For electrically heatedcooking apparatus, the cooking formula provides the cooking time periodin minutes as being equal to 40 times the square root of the weight ofthe meat item plus or minus a K factor for the desired degree ofdoneness of the particular meat item and with the cooking temperaturebeing approximately 325 F.

The results of the above formula is inminutes from the time the cookingapparatus beings to cook the meat item to the time thatv the meat itemis ready to be removed from the oven at the termination or zero positionof such completed time period. However, during such cooking operation,the high cooking temperature (325 F.) is terminated at a set pointduring the computed cooking time period so that the temperature in theoven, while drifting down from the high cooking temperature to a holdingand non-cooking low temperature, will continue to cook the meat itemuntil the oven reaches the hold temperature of the oven which is thezero or end of the computed cooking time period. In this manner, thecooked meat item will be at the desired degree of doneness so that ifthe housewife does not remove the meat item at this particular time, theoven will maintain the meat item at a palatable temperature which is anon-cooking temperature so that the cooked meat item can be removed fromthe oven any time after the elapsed and computed cooking time period.

For example, it has been found that for gaseous fuel burning ovens, theautomatic cut back time for the oven temperature to the end of acomputed cooking time period can be'approximately 45 minutes whereas inelectrically heated ovens such automatic cut back time can beapproximately 60 minutes.

In the computer structure of the aforementioned copendingpatent'application, the housewife is required to manually set bothcooking variables of the cooking formula into the computer by separateinput means with the computer subsequently providing a visual indicationof the computed cooking time period. Such a computer can be utilized byitself or in combination with a cooking apparatus to automatically causethe cooking apparatus to cook the food at the computed cooking timeperiod if the housewife so desires. However, the housewife must insertinto the computer a weight selection by a manually settable input meansas well as operate another manually settable input means for insertinginto the computer the desired degree of doneness of the particular meatitem.

It is well known that the more knobs or other manual selector meansprovided on a cooking apparatus for a housewife to operate in ordertoprovide a cooking function tends to cause the housewife not to use anyof such automatic devices because she is afraid of not following aproper sequence for setting the automatic controls of a cookingapparatus, particularly when she is afraid of ruining an expensive meatroast orthe like.

Therefore, one of the features of this invention is to provide a cookingcomputer of the above type wherein the housewife need only manuallyinsert one input means of the aforementioned cooking formula into thecomputer to provide for the computed cooking time period for aparticular meat item whereby the operation of such computer by thehousewife is a relatively simple operation while the computerautomatically provides its accurate output function as fully described amanually settable weight input means for indicating a single selectedindicated weight applicable to all meat items and corresponding to theweight of the particular meat item to be cooked. The weight input meansis settable in relation to a visually selected variable of thestationary input means. The computer has a time period output meansoperatively associated with the input means to provide as an output acooking time period for the particular meat item computed as a functionfrom the selection of both of the input means in the cooking formula ofthe aforementioned patent applications.

Thus, it can be seen that the housewife or the like needonly manuallyinsert into the computer of this invention a setting corresponding tothe weight of the particular meat item to be cooked while merelyvisually setting such weight input means in relation to a desired degreeof doneness input means that is stationary and non-manually settable,the computer interpreting such relationship in accordance with theaforementioned cooking formula to provide as an output the cooking timeperiod for that particular meat item. The output means of the computercan comprise a visual indication of the computed cooking time periodrequired and/or comprising the automatic operation of a cookingapparatus cooking such meat item for such computed cooking time period.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedcooking computer having one or more of the novel features set forthabove or hereinaftershown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved cookingapparatus utilizing the cooking computer means of this invention.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of the cooking computer of thisinvention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the cooking computer of FIG. 1 with certainstructure thereof removed.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the computer disc utilized for the computer ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the computer of FIG. 1, similar to FIG. 2,except that the rear structure is not removed, FIG. 4 schematicallyillustrating the computer in combination with a cooking apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken substantially online 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and illustrates the structure inanother operating position thereof.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 7--7 of FIG.5.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2 with certain structurethereof removed and illustrating the normal setting of the cookingcomputer components before a selected cooking operation is set therein.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 and illustrates the structure whenthe housewife has set the computer to operate a cooking apparatus at aset point or start time in the future.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 and illustrates the cooking computerafter the housewife has inserted the weight input into the computer toautomatically set the cooking hours once the cooking period has beenreached by the control device.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, front view of the computer illustrating theset condition of the computer after the weight input means has beeninserted therein in the manner illustrated in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 10 and illustrates the computer duringthe cooking operation.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter describedand illustrated as being particularly adaptable for operating with anautomatic clock arrangement for oven control, it is to be understoodthat the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or inany combination thereof to provide cooking computer means for othercontrol means or merely by itself for information purposes and the like,if desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the computer device of this invention isgenerally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and comprises aconventional frame structure 21 having a front wall 22 providing acontrol panel for the computer device 20 wherein the control panel 22has the conventional bell ringing settable timer 23 that does not formany part of this invention, a timer operated clock means 24 that isconventional in the art except that the same is being utilized incombination with the computer means of this invention in a unique manneras will be apparent hereinafter to control a cooking apparatus and thecomputer 25 of this invention hereinafter described.

In general, the computer portion 25 of the computer device 20 includes acontrol knob 26 which the housewife can rotate to cause a disc 27, FIG.3, to position a weight scale 28 thereon so as to be viewable through anarcuate window means 29 in the front wall 22. In this manner thehousewife can set a weight input means into the computer 25 in relationto a stationary scale or input means 30A and 30B respectively disposedon opposite sides of the arcuate window 29 so that a computed cookingtime period scale 31 on the disc 27 will be viewable at another windowmeans 32 of the front wall 22. A pointer 33 of the front wall 22 at thewindow 32 will indicate on the time scale 31 the computed cooking-timeperiod for a particular weight of meat as set against a stationary inputmeans for the desired degree of doneness thereof as will be apparenthereinafter.

The upper stationary scale 30A on the front wall 22 of the computerdevice 20 is provided for beef roasts and extends from a rare setting-34througha medium range 35 to a well done setting 36 with the scale 30Abeing suitably colored from left to right with red hues conforming tothe degree of doneness that the interior of the meat will have for aparticular degree of doneness setting against the scale 30A. The scale30B is provided for the degree of doneness of other meat types; Sinceother meat types each are normally cooked to the same degree of donenessfor that particular type of meat, the scale 30B includes a singlesetting 37 for stuffed fowl, a single setting 38 for'unstuffed fowl anda single setting 39 for well done pork. Of course, a range of settingsfor each different type of meat could be provided, if desired.

As previously stated, the disc 27 carrying the weight scale 28 and timescale 31 is rotatable relative to the front wall 22 of the computerdevice 20 by the control knob 26, the disc 27 being carried on a shaftmeans 40 to be rotated thereby when the knob 26 is rotated. The

shaft 40 is rotatably mounted to the frame means 21v with the shaftmeans 40 carrying a gear disc 41 having a first portion 42 provided withgear teeth 43 about the outer periphery thereof except at a smoothuntoothed portion 44 thereof for a purpose hereinafter described andcomprising 'an inwardly offset cam portion 45 having a portion thereofdefining a substantially circular cam surface 46 interrupted by aninwardly offset cam area 47 for a purpose hereinafter described. Theoffset area 47 is located adjacent the smooth surface 44 of the gearportion 42 for a purpose hereinafter described.

A lever 48 is pivotally mounted to the frame means by a pivot pin 49 andhas a tongue or ear 50 engageable against the cam surface 46, 47 of thedisc portion 45 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 2, 8, 9, 10 and 12 ofthe drawings with the ear 50 tending to follow the contour 46, 47 of thedisc 41 by the force of a tension spring 51 having one end 52interconnected to the lever 48 and the other end 53 interconnected to aframe pin 54. The pivot pin 49 carries a plunger actuator lever 55 alsopivotally mounted to the pin 49 and normally tending to follow movementof the lever 48 through a hair pin spring arrangement 56 which has oneleg 57 passing through a slotted part 58 of the lever 55 and bearingagainst an outwardly directed tang 59 of the lever 48 while the otherleg 60 of the spring 56 passes through the slotted part 58 of the lever55 at the other side 3 thereof. A tension spring 60' tends tocause'clockwise movement of the lever 55 in the manner illustrated inFIG. 8 except that the hair spring 56 when having the leg 57 engagingagainst the tang 59 of the lever 48 overcomes the force of the tensionspring 60 so that the lever 55 tends to follow the movement of the lever48 as the same is cammed by the cam disc 41 as will be apparenthereinafter.

The lever 55 has a plunger actuator 61 for engaging against a plunger62, FIG. 4, of an electrical switch 63 carried on the rear of the framemeans 21 of the computer device with the electrical switch 63 beingadapted to be interconnected into the control circuit 64 of a cookingapparatus 65 in the manner schematically illustrated in FIG. 4.

In particular, the electrical switch 63 has a pair of terminals 66 and67 adapted to be electrically interconnected together when the plunger62 is in its full out position as illustrated in phantom lines in FIG.12 and to disconnect the electrical connection between the terminals 66and 67 when the plunger 62 is in its in position as illustrated in FIGS.4, 8, 9 and 10.

The terminals 66 and 67 are respectively electrically interconnected'toa control device 68 by leads 69 and 70 with the control device 68 beinginterconnected to power source leads 1.. and L by suitable leads 71 and72. The electrical heating element 73 for the cooking apparatus 65 isinterconnected to the control device 68 by lead means 74 and 75. Ofcourse, it is to be understood that the heating element 73 for thecooking device 65 could be a gas burner with the control device 68interconnecting and disconnecting a source of fuel from such burner inthe same manner as the same interconnects and disconnects the powersource leads L and L from the heating element 73.

Nevertheless, it is to be understood that the control device 68 does notcause the heating means 73 for the oven 65 to operate under the controlof a thermostatic means until the plunger 62 of the switch 63 is in itsoutermost position when the control device 68 is set for an automaticcooking operation as will be apparent hereinafter. When the controldevice 68 is set for an automatic cooking operation to be controlled bythe computer means of this invention, the control device 68automatically sets the thermostatic means thereof to maintain thetemperature in the oven at 325 in accordance with the teachings of thecooking formula of the aforementioned copending patent applications.

Of course, if it is desired to operate the oven 65 inde pendently of thecomputer device 20 of this-invention, the control device 68 is set in amanual position thereof so that the control of the heater means 73 isindependent of the operation of the switch means 63 of the computer 20.However, if desired, the computer device 20 can be so constructed thatthe control knob 26 can set the disc 41 at a manual position thereofwherein the ear 50 of the lever 48 is set in a notch 76 of the disc 41to permit the plunger 62 to be set in its outermost position and remainin such position until the'disc 41 is manually turned out of its manual"position.

The frame means 21 of the computer controller device 20 carries aconventional electrically operated timer motor 77 on a rear plate 78thereof with the timer motor 77 having an output shaft 79, FIG. 2, forcontinuously driving a timer pinion gear 80 disposed in meshing relationwith a gear 81 mounted to a shaft means 82 carried by the frame means 21with the shaft means 82 carrying the minute and hour hands 83 and 84 ofthe clock 24 so that the hands 83 and 84 will indicate the actual timeof day in relation to a clock face means 85 disposed on the front wall22 of the computer controller 20. The hands 83 and 84 are adapted to beset relative to the-clock face 85 by a conventional knob structure 86 onthe shaft means 82 in a manner well known in the art.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, a disc 87 is splined on the shaft 82and is urged'to the left in FIG. 5 by a compression spring 88, the disc87 carrying a gear 89 to rotate in unison with the disc 87 and theaxially movable therewith. Another gear 90 is disposed for rotation onthe shaft 82 relative to the shaft 82 and is disposed between a frameplate 91 of the frame 21 and the axially movable disc 87 while beingurged toward the disc 87 by a load, washer-like spring 92. Therotational position of gear wheel 90 relative to the shaft 82 is set bythe setting of the start to cook hand 93 of the clock means 24 as thehand 93 rotates in unison with the disc 87. The gear 90 and, thus, thestart to cook hand 93 is set by a control knob 94 on the front wall 22of the computer 20 and operates a shaft 95 carrying a gear 96 that isinterconnected to the gear 90 by intermediate gears 97 and 98 wherebymoving the start knob 94 will move the gear 90. The gear 90 has anoutwardly directed cam part 99 which is adapted to ride in or bereceived in a recess or hole 100 on the face 101 of the disc 87 in themanner illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7. However, when the disc 90 isrotated relative to the disc 87 by the knob 94, the member 99 earns thedisc 87 axially to the right as illustrated in FIG. 6 whereby the disc87 and gear 89 are moved in opposition to theforce of the compressionspring. 88 as illustrated in FIG. 6. However, when the hour and minutehands 83 and 84 reach the same time position as the time settingposition of the start time hand 93, the recess 100 in the disc 87 is inregistry with the tang 99 of the gear 90 so that the disc 87 willaxially move from the position illustrated in I FIG. 6 to the positionillustrated in FIG. 5 whenever the hands 83 and 84 of the clock 24correspond to the start time setting of the hand 93 for a purpose thatwill be apparent hereinafter.

As the start time shaft 95 is rotated by the knob 94, the shaft 95 alsorotates a lever 102 therewith which acts against a leg 103 of anL-shaped lever 104 pivoted to the frame means 21 by the pivot pin 49that carries the levers 48 and 55 previously described. The L- shapedarm 104 has the other leg 105 thereof provided with a flag or indicatingarea 106 which when pivoted from the position illustrated in FIG. 2 tothe position illustrated in FIG. 9 will be viewable through a windowmeans 107 in the front wall 22 of the computer controller 20 asillustrated in FIG. 11 to indicate that a start time has been set by theknob 94 to cause a timed cooking operation to begin when the start timeis reached by the clock hands 83 and 84 as will be apparent hereinafter.The arm 105 of the L-shaped lever 104 also has a cam tongue 108 providedwith an arcuate surface 109 adapted to abut against the peripheral edge110 of the disc 87 so as to position the lever 104 in its normal pivotedposition as illustrated in FIG. 2.

However, the lever 104 also carries an arm 111 which has an end 112adapted to abut against the smooth peripheral surface 110 of the disc 87when the disc 87 has been moved axially to the right in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 6 whereby as long as the disc 87 has been cammedaway from the gear 90 by the tang 99 thereof, the arm 104 will be heldin its pivoted position as illustrated in FIG. 9 by the end 112 of thearm 1 11 and such movement of the arm 104 causes a tang 113 on the arm105 to engage against the leg 57 of the spring 56 for the lever 55 andmove the lever 55 to the left as illustrated in FIG. 9 to maintain theplunger actuator 61 of the lever 55 in position to maintain the switchplunger 62 for the switch 63 in its in position even though the lever 48is subsequently cammed to the right in FIG. by the disc 41 so as to moveits tang 59 away from the spring 57 as illustrated in FIG. 10.

The movement of the arm 104 to its time setting position from theposition illustrated in FIG. 8 to the position illustrated in FIG. 9also causes the pivoting of a drive wheel 114 out of meshing relationwith a drive wheel 115 on the output shaft 116 which shaft 116 isnormally driven by a timer gear 117 disposed in meshing relation withthe timer gear 118 on the main shaft 82. In particular, the gear means114 has its shaft tiltably mounted to the frame plate 78 with such shaftbeing interconnected to the arm 105 by a tension spring to cause thegear means 114 to tilt in relation to movement of the arm 105.

The tiltable gear 1 14 when disposed in meshing relation with the gearmeans 115 is adapted to be disposed in meshing relation with the gearteeth means 43 on the disc 41 to rotate the same when the gear teeth 43are disposed in a position to be in meshing relation with the gear means114. However, when the gear means 114 is tilted by the am 104 in themanner illustrated in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, even though the gear 115 isbeing driven by the timer motor 77 through the gear train previouslydescribed, the wheel 41 will not be rotated therewith until the pivotalgear 1 14 is moved back to the position illustrated in FIG. 12 where thesame is in meshing relation with the gear 116 so as to rotate the gearwheel 41 through the gear teeth 43 thereof as illustrated and for apurpose hereinafter described.

As previously stated, the timer motor 77 and the drive mechanismtherefor for causing the operation of the plunger 62 of the switch 63 tobe moved to its out position at a particular set start time as set bythe hand 93 under the control of the knob 94 and to remain in such outposition until a preselected number of cooking hours has been completedwherein the plunger 62 is moved back to its inward position by the arm55, is well known structure manufactured by the assignee of thisapplication. In particular, such well known structure is designated as651,670 and 675 Series Timers produced by the Lux Time Division ofRobertshaw Controls Company and reference is made thereto for furtherdetails of the structure and operation of this structure. However, thefeatures of this invention are the converting of such mechanism toprovide for an automatic in the computer portion 25 of this inventionwhich provides a unique arrangement, the operation of which will now bedescribed.

Assuming that the computer controller 20 is disposed in the positionillustrated in FIG. 1 wherein the start time knob 94 has not been movedto the desired start position and the computer 25 has not been set inany position thereof for a desired meat item, the housewife has decidedthat she-wants to cook a 5 lb. beef roast with a doneness of rare roastbeef.

The housewife first rotates the knob 26 of the computer 25 so that theweight scale 28 of the disc 27 will position the number 5 adjacent thedesired degree of rareness on the stationary scale 30A in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 11 whereby the housewife will then look at thewindow 27 of the front wall 22 and see that the indicator 33 isindicating on the time scale 31 of the disc 27 that the 5 lb. beef roastcan be taken from the oven any time after 2 hours from the start of thecooking time whereby the housewife will know that the beef roast can beremoved from the oven any time after 8 oclock if she starts the cookingoperation at 6 oclock.

Accordingly, the housewife then turns the knob 94 in the properdirection to cause the start hand 93 to move from the positionillustrated in FIG. 1 to the position illustrated in FIG. 11 with suchrotation of the knob 94 not only setting the hand 93 at the startposition of 6 oclock, but also causing the arm 104 to be pivoted fromthe position illustrated in FIG. 8 to the position illustrated in FIG. 9to hold the lever 55 in its plunger in position by the tang 113 thereofoperating on the arm 57 of the spring 56 as well as tilting the gearmeans 114 out of meshing relation with the gear 116 as previouslydescribed.

Alternately, the housewife can set the start time knob 94 before thehousewife operates the computer 25 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 11to determine that the 5 lb. beef roast will be done in a rare conditionthereof after being cooked two hours from the desired start time. Thus,it can be seen that it makes no difference which knob 26 or 94 isoperated before the other knob thereof, the important feature being thatthe computer 25 not only indicates the number of cooking hours requiredfor a particular weight setting of a particular meat item in relation toa desired degree of doneness thereof, but will cause such cooking timeperiod to automatically take place from a desired starting time.

With both knobs 94 and 26 now set in the position illustrated in FIG.11, it can be seen from FIG. 10 that the disc 41 has been set by theknob 26 to a rotational position thereof so that the gear teeth 43 willbe in re gister with the gear means 114 when the gear means 114 is movedor tilted back into meshing relation with the gear means 115 and suchcondition will only happen when the lever means 104 moves back to itsunpivoted position as illustrated in FIG. 12 by the disc 87 having itsrecess 100 aligned with the tang 99 on the gear 90 when the actual timereaches the start time setting of the hand 93 in the manner previouslydescribed. At this time, the disc 87 is moved back to the left in themanner illustrated in FIG. 5 as the'tang 99 is aligned with the recess100 thereof, such movement of the disc 87 causing the arm 104 to move tothe position illustrated in FIG. 12 whereby the lever 55 is adapted tomove to the right under the force of the spring 56 so that the plunger62 of the switch 63 is moved outwardly and the control device 68 can nowoperate the heating means 73 of the oven 65 to cause the heating means73 to maintain the oven 65 at 325 F. as long as the plunger 62,0f theswitch 63 is in its out position. The plunger 62 of the switch 63 willbe in its out position during a certain portion of the computed cookingtime period as originally viewed through the window 27 of the controllerand in the example given was for 2 hours.

However, slightly before the 2 hour period is reached, the inward part87 of the cam surface 46 of the disc 41 comes into registration with theear 50 of the lever 48 so that the same rides inwardly in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 8 under the force of the spring 51 whereby the tang59 on the lever 48 moves the lever 55 to the left in FIG. 8 to againdepress the plunger62 of the switch 63 and terminate the operation ofthe heating means 73 for the oven 65.

As previously stated, this automatic cut back from cooking temperaturefor gaseous fuel burning apparatus is approximately 45 minutes from theend of the computed cooking time period and for electrically heatedovens is approximately 60 minutes from the end of the computed cookingtime period so that during the drifting down of the temperature of theoven 65 from the cooking temperature of 325 to a holdingand noncookingtemperature thereof, such as 170 F., the meat in the oven 65 will becontinuously cooked so that at the end of the cooking time period whenthe dial 27 indicates zero cooking hours in the window 32, the meat itemwill be at the doneness that has been previously selected on the'scale30A of the computer in the manner previously described and in accordancewith the cooking formula of the aforementioned patent applications.

Therefore, it can be seen that the computer controller 20 of thisinvention automatically indicates to the housewife or the like whatcooking time period is required for a particular meat item by permittingthe housewife to simply set the weight of the particular meat item bythe knob 26 in alignable relation with-the desired degree of doneness onthe stationary scale 30A or to the particular meat type on thestationary meat time scale 30B whereby the computer 25 provides as anoutput not only the computed number of cooking hours required for such ameat item, but also sets the disc 41 to operate in combination with thecomputer controller 20 the cooking apparatus 65 to automatically cooksuch food for that computed time period at any start time as set by thecontrol knob 94 in an automatic manner.

It is to be understood that during the automatic cooking operation asprovided by the computer 25 of this invention, once the cookingoperation starts in the oven 65, the rotation of the disc 41 back to theposition illustrated in FIG. 8 from the position illustrated in FIG. 12causes the dial 27 to rotate in unison therewith so that the housewifecan look at the window 32 and see how much cooking time is remainingbefore the meat item will be properly cooked.

Accordingly, it can be seen that this invention not only provides animproved cooking computer having many novel features as previously setforth, but also this invention provides an improved cooking apparatus byutilizing such a computer for controlling the operation thereof.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been illustrated anddescribed as required by the patent statutes, other forms may beutilized all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A cooking computer for determining the cooking operation of a cookingapparatus, said computer having a stationary input means indicatingselectable variables other than the weight of a meat item, said computerhaving a manually settable weight input means for indicating a singleselected indicated weight applicable to all meat items and correspondingto the weight of a particular meat item to be cooked, said weight inputmeans being settable in relation to a selected variable of saidstationary input means, said computer having a time period output meansoperatively associated with said input means to provide as an output acooking time period for said particular meat item computed as a functionfrom the selection of both of said input means.

2. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said computer hasmeans visually indicating said computed cooking time period.

3. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stationaryinput-means indicates a variable of meat cooking doneness.

4. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stationaryinput means indicates a variable of meat type.

5. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stationaryinput means indicates a variable of meat cooking doneness and a variableof meat type.

6. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stationaryinput means comprises a stationary scale, said weight input meanscomprising a movable scale adjacent said stationary scale to beselectably alignable therewith.

7. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 6 wherein said time periodoutput means comprises means for visually indicating said computercooking time period.

8. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means forvisually indicating said computed cooking time period comprises amovable scale remote from said stationary scale.

9. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 8 wherein said computer hasa movable member, said I movable scale of said weight input means andsaid movable scale of said time period output means being carried bysaid movable member.

10. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 9 wherein said computer hasanother member carrying said stationary scale and having a first openingmeans adjacent said stationary scale and a second opening means remotefrom said stationary scale, said movable member being movable relativeto said other member and having said movable scale of said weight inputmeans andsaid movable scale of said time period output meansrespectively viewable through said first and second opening means ofsaid other member.

11. A cooking computer for determining the cooking operation of acooking apparatus, said computer having a stationary input meansindicating selectable degrees of meat doneness for at least one meattype in an infinite range thereof between certain limits, said computerhaving a manually settable weight input means for indicating a singleselected indicated weight applicable to all meat types and correspondingto the weight of a particular meat item to be cooked, said weight inputmeans providing an infinite selection of weight between certain limits,said weight input means being settable in relation to a selected degreeof doneness of said stationary input means, said computer having a timeperiod output means operatively associated with said input means toprovide as an output a cooking time period for said particular meat itemcomputed as a function from the selection of both of said input means.

12. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 11 wherein said time periodoutput has means visually indicating said computed cooking time period.

13. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 11 wherein said stationaryinput means also indicates selectable doneness for other meat types,said weight input means being settable in relation to a selected meattype of said stationary input means.

14. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 11 wherein said computerhas a wall carrying said sta tionary input means thereon in the form ofan arcuate stationary scale, said wall having an opening adjacent saidstationary scale, said computer having a rotatable disc carrying saidweight input means thereon in the form of an arcuate scale having atleast part thereof viewable through said opening whereby a selectedweight on said weight scale can be aligned with a selected degree ofdoneness on said stationary scale.

15. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 14 wherein said stationaryscale is on one side of said opening, said wall carrying stationaryindications of doneness for other meat types on the other side thereofwhereby a selected weight on said weight scale can be aligned with aselected doneness of another meat type so that said time period outputmeans will compute said cooking time period from the aligned selectionof said scales.

16. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 14 wherein said arcuatestationary scale'has color indications corresponding to degrees of meatdoneness.

17. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 14 wherein said disc hassaid time period output means thereon in a form of a time scale viewableat another opening' of said wall whereby said computed time period isvisually indicated at said other opening when said selection of bothinput means is made.

18. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 17 wherein said time scaleprovides said computed time period based on a cooking formula whereinsaid time period is the result of a fixed constant times the square rootof the selected weight plus an amount corresponding to the donenessselection.

19. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 18 wherein said fixedconstant is approximately for gaseous fuel burning cooking apparatus andis approximately 40 for electrically heated cooking apparatus.

20. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 19 wherein said weightscaleis disposed at one radial distance from the axls of rotation of said(1156 and said time scale is disposed at another radial distance fromsaid axis of rotation of said disc.

1. A cooking computer for determining the cooking operation of a cookingapparatus, said computer having a stationary input means indicatingselectable variables other than the weight of a meat item, said computerhaving a manually settable weight input means for indicating a singleselected indicated weight applicable to all meat items and correspondingto the weight of a particular meat item to be cooked, said weight inputmeans being settable in relation to a selected variable of saidstationary input means, said computer having a time period output meansoperatively associated with said input means to provide as an output acooking time period for said particular meat item computed as a functionfrom the selection of both of said input means.
 2. A cooking computer asset forth in claim 1 wherein said computer has means visually indicatingsaid computed cooking time period.
 3. A cooking computer as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said stationary input means indicates a variable of meatcooking doneness.
 4. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid stationary input means indicates a variable of meat type.
 5. Acooking computer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stationary inputmeans indicates a variable of meat cooking doneness and a variable ofmeat type.
 6. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidstationary input means comprises a stationary scale, said weight inputmeans comprising a movable scale adjacent said stationary scale to beselectably alignable therewith.
 7. A cooking computer as set forth inclaim 6 wherein said time period output means comprises means forvisually indicating said computer cooking time period.
 8. A cookingcomputer as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means for visuallyindicating said computed cooking time period comprises a movable scaleremote from said stationary scale.
 9. A cooking computer as set forth inclaim 8 wherein said computer has a movable member, said movable scaleof said weight input means and said movable scale of said time periodoutput means being carried by said movable member.
 10. A cookingcomputer as set forth in claim 9 wherein said computer has anothermember carrying said stationary scale and having a first opening meansadjacent said stationary scale and a second opening means remote fromsaid stationary scale, said movable member being movable relative tosaid other member and having said movable scale of said weight inputmeans and said movable scale of said time period output meansrespectively viewable through said first and second opening means ofsaid other member.
 11. A cooking computer for determining the cookingoperation of a cooking apparatus, said computer having a stationaryinput means indicating selectable degrees of meat doneness for at leastone meat type in an infinite range thereof between certain limits, saidcomputer having a manually settable weight input means for indicating asingle selected indicated weight applicable to all meat types andcorresponding to the weight of a particular meat item to be cooked, saidweight input means providing an infinite selection of weight betweencertain limits, said weight input means being settable in relation to aselected degree of doneness of said stationary input means, saidcomputer having a time period output means operatively associated withsaid input means to provide as an output a cooking time period for saidparticular meat item computed as a function from the selection oF bothof said input means.
 12. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 11wherein said time period output has means visually indicating saidcomputed cooking time period.
 13. A cooking computer as set forth inclaim 11 wherein said stationary input means also indicates selectabledoneness for other meat types, said weight input means being settable inrelation to a selected meat type of said stationary input means.
 14. Acooking computer as set forth in claim 11 wherein said computer has awall carrying said stationary input means thereon in the form of anarcuate stationary scale, said wall having an opening adjacent saidstationary scale, said computer having a rotatable disc carrying saidweight input means thereon in the form of an arcuate scale having atleast part thereof viewable through said opening whereby a selectedweight on said weight scale can be aligned with a selected degree ofdoneness on said stationary scale.
 15. A cooking computer as set forthin claim 14 wherein said stationary scale is on one side of saidopening, said wall carrying stationary indications of doneness for othermeat types on the other side thereof whereby a selected weight on saidweight scale can be aligned with a selected doneness of another meattype so that said time period output means will compute said cookingtime period from the aligned selection of said scales.
 16. A cookingcomputer as set forth in claim 14 wherein said arcuate stationary scalehas color indications corresponding to degrees of meat doneness.
 17. Acooking computer as set forth in claim 14 wherein said disc has saidtime period output means thereon in a form of a time scale viewable atanother opening of said wall whereby said computed time period isvisually indicated at said other opening when said selection of bothinput means is made.
 18. A cooking computer as set forth in claim 17wherein said time scale provides said computed time period based on acooking formula wherein said time period is the result of a fixedconstant times the square root of the selected weight plus an amountcorresponding to the doneness selection.
 19. A cooking computer as setforth in claim 18 wherein said fixed constant is approximately 70 forgaseous fuel burning cooking apparatus and is approximately 40 forelectrically heated cooking apparatus.
 20. A cooking computer as setforth in claim 19 wherein said weight scale is disposed at one radialdistance from the axis of rotation of said disc and said time scale isdisposed at another radial distance from said axis of rotation of saiddisc.